Bridgestone Classic Motorcycles

While heading Bridgestone's
US bicycle division, Petersen was able to
express and evangelize his passions for traditional
good designs. A passion that had been fed
by old world cycling traditions from Europe
and spread with the bike boom of the 1970's.
But was endangered by the marketing and flash
culture surrounding the rise of the mountain
bike. Petersen was able to use Bridgestone's
massive production capacity to make inexpensive,
high quality bikes that were aimed at a market
that valued long term use as well as performance.
So the Bridgestone team took the inherent
advantages of the steel frame, mated them
with well thought out components and produced
bikes that supported longer rides, greater
comfort, durability, everyday use and of course
style without sacrificing performance. They
looked back at the Fin de Siecle bike boom
and promoted the classic aesthetics of that
period. The bikes, which had always been nice
now began to look nicer, riders had the opportunity
to sport Bridgestone manufactured classic
wool jerseys with nut buttoned shoulders and
classic looks.

The bikes became better and
better, new designs were less flashy but better
thought out than the rest of the market, especially
among major producers, which Bridgestone was.
However, at some point things began to go
wrong. The Bridgestone ideology began to undermine
sales. Quiet quality will sell bikes to educated
consumers but for any number of reasons a
shiny cheap bike will sell as quick. Bridgestone
finally disappeared from the American market
when the rising yen made profitability impossible.

Bridgestone Motorcycle History
Highlights;

1945-Bridgestone Bicycle
Corporation Formed

1953-BS-21 “BAMBI”
Production Begins

1963-Bridgestone Motorcycles
Comes To America

1964-Bridgestone BS-90
Production Begins

1965-Bridgestone BS-50
Production Begins

1965-Bridgestone DT-175
Production Begins

1966-Bridgestone SR-Racer
Production Begins

1967-Bridgestone 350 GTR
Production Begins

1969 Bridgestone 100/GP
& 100/TMX Production Begins

1969 Bridgestone Motorcycle
Factory Production Ends

1971-Rockford Motors Cycle
Production Begins

1975-Rockford Motors Cycle
Production Ends

Bike

Image

Description

1960's Bridgestone Hurricane Scrambler

Bridgestone 90 Series

With the introduction of the 90 series
to America in 1964 the Bridgestone 90’s
placed Bridgestone in the American motorcycle
market as a serious and dominating force.

With a total production sales of 51,000
by 1966 the 90 series was truly the
model that proved it. Offered in nine
different models the 90 series had the
most models of any other series offered
by Bridgestone to the U.S. market.

The 90 Models;

Deluxe

Mountain W/Oil Injection

Mountain WO/Oil Injection

Racer

Sport W/Oil Injection

Sport WO/Oil Injection

Standard

Trail W/Oil Injection

Trail WO/Oil Injection

Bridgestone 50 Sport

Introduced in 1965, The 50 Sport
was the bike to beat in the 50 c.c.
class!, with it's 48 c.c. 4.8 h.p. rotary
valve, 4-speed transmission and an amazing
50 mph + top speed.

Offered only in America as the 50 Sport
version , but offered in several versions
in Japan including a SR version .

Bridgestone 60 Sport

Introduced in 1966 the Bridgestone 60
Sport should have been named longevity,
with it's durable 60 c.c. single cylinder
rotary valve 4 speed transmission 5.8
hp motor it stayed in the lineup for more
year's than any other Bridgestone model.

This bike was built in competition
to the Honda CB92 & C92 and Yamaha
YA5 YAS1 etc. but was actually the top
bike in Japanese 90cc racing class,
when it was tuned with the appropriate
equipment.. A rare alternative to the
FS1E B100P or SS90.

1966 Bridgestone 175DT

Introduced in 1965,The DT175 was
the bike to beat in it's class!

With it's 177 c.c. 20 h.p. twin, dual
rotary valve, chrome bore cylinders,
selective 4-speed/5-speed transmission,
full time oil injection. Offered in
2 versions, the DT being the street
version and the Hurricane Scrambler
being the scrambler version.

Picture taken in 1978 prior to the addition
of expansion chambers. Sport version has
quarter fairing, low bars, bar-end mirrors,
all-chrome gas tank, oil tank and side
cover, Mulholland Shocks, ACCEL transistorized
ignition, solid-state rectifier, halogen
headlamp, Michelin Sport Compound tires.
Speed withdrawals while in the military
forced acquisition of this replacement
for the '71 I left behind.

1969 Bridgestone GTR350

Here's what one leading motorcycle magazine
said when they tested the 350 GTR: "The
engine/transmission unit is fantastic ...
It is so good, in fact, that only a real
technician can fully appreciate all the
details." Another said this, "As
big and as fast as any 500—and considerably
faster than most." Six speeds, 40 HP,
oil injection, dual rotary valves are only
part of the story. Your Bridgestone dealer
will show you a host of design innovations
that make the 350 GTR unlike anything you've
ever seen or ridden.

Introduced in 1969 the Bridgestone 350
GTO was the scrambler version of the FTR
that was a familiar model in the dual
twin Bridgestone family. With it's stylish
upswept pipes, lower gearing and true
tracking type skid plate made it a natural
light off road machine if you was brave
enough!

1969 Bridgestone TMX100

1969 Bridgestone Mach II-RS and Mach
II-SS

Both feature the new Bridgestone 200
cc dual rotary valve twin that already
holds 2 world land speed records in its
class at Bonneville! Five speeds, oil
injection, alloy cylinders with chromed
bores, dual carbs. suede-finish saddles,
new candy finish, bracket mounted instrumentation
are just part of the story.

1969 Bridgestone 175 SR

This limited production racer is without
equal in its class. Wins at Daytona and
N.H.R.A. World Dragstrip record prove
it unbeatable. Features hand-polished
ports, stuffed crankshaft. special exhaust
system, oversize dual carbs, modified
dual rotary valves, special ignition.
Each 175 S/R is dyno tuned, ready to race
and win out of the box.

1969 Bridgestone 50 Sport

Big performance at a mini price. Rotary
valve 2-stroke and 4-speed transmission
delivers more speed and acceleration than
anything in its class.

1969 Bridgestone 100 Sport

The race-proven Bridgestone 100 cc rotary
valve 2-stroke with 4-speed constant mesh
transmission puts a full 9.5 horses on
the road. Oil injection is standard. The
100 Sport is acknowledged to be one of
the best handling, hottest performing
lightweights on the road.